Social media has given many the public avenue to air grievances on any and everything – that in and of itself is not an issue, save for the way and manner some of the reservations are voiced.
I won’t look on as anyone insults me especially over three issues – my religion, my family and where I come from. Even though all three are connected to me directly – you’d better direct an insult at me than at the three – in that order.
But I’m minded that Islam which is the utmost thing I’d defend any day anytime and anywhere lays out a module for a response. I’d dwell on two: The Quran tells us to respond with peace to the ignorant.
The categorical admonition of Prophet Muhammad – May Allah exalt his mention – tasking us to not get angry, i.e. opt for patience, as best as we can when provoked. Inference: even when responding to insult get a grip on emotions.
The issue at hand: A Member of Parliament and Minister makes classically ignorant and blatantly untrue claims about a vicinity whiles on the floor of parliament. His attention is drawn, he refuses to see the truth – sense if you want.
Then came a blitz on social media calling for RA – retraction and apology from the MP. Then a series of abusive posts and reactions describing the MP among others as being “stupid, foolish, mindless” etc.
Then for anyone who tries projecting the other side of things, you are tagged as backing the MP. Insulters don’t get it, for them if you won’t join us insult them you are affiliated to the other side – what a fallacy!
The MP said Nima will for the first time have residents flushing toilets like people across town – in East Legon. That it’s thanks to slum upgrade efforts of the government.
It is funny how in this day and age, a Minister believes that there is a slum in Ghana where a water closet cannot be found. Downright ignorant and arrogance on refusal to concede he was wrong.
This is a Ghana in which the government has long campaigned to end the traditional pit latrines and where even public places of convenience are transiting from KVIPs to WCs. Does that make him stupid, foolish, idiotic, NO!
Then the “clapback” enters a more weird arena of baseless comparison. The Minister was about Nima, the insulted insulters went on rampage insulting the Minister’s constituency – so his constituents might as well insult back eh, see why I said it can’t be a stupidity contest?
Some dragged in the President because his house falls under Nima, but so what? That’s the point about an ignorant comment and also we all know the Nima the Minister was referring to – even though wrongfully so.
Those that claim the president also comes to ease himself in non-WC toilets did, those that went on a census of WC public toilets gleefully did so. Fact is Nima still has houses where pan latrines are used, public toilets have a mix of WC and pit latrines.
Lest I forget, those that said Nima was the “ish” because it housed the presidency and the president, the French embassy et. al. went about their businesses thanks to technology and data.
Ah Alfa, you mean there was no need to react to the Minister? There was an absolute need. He needed to be educated not insulted. How about a press release calling him out with a hashtag and posting photos of WCs dotted in Nima? I’m just saying.
For too long, social media militancy has seen people huff and puff on Facebook threatening any and everyone. So instead of righting the wrong, they increase the violent perception.
How many years since 1992, Zongos are still breeding grounds for political thuggery. Some of these violent posturing only seek to emphasize them. Our response to anger – justified or not, cannot be insults. Who insults epp?
I won’t look on as anyone insults me especially over three issues – my religion, my family and where I come from. Even though all three are connected to me directly – you’d better direct an insult at me than at the three – in that order.
But I’m minded that Islam which is the utmost thing I’d defend any day anytime and anywhere lays out a module for a response. I’d dwell on two: The Quran tells us to respond with peace to the ignorant.
The categorical admonition of Prophet Muhammad – May Allah exalt his mention – tasking us to not get angry, i.e. opt for patience, as best as we can when provoked. Inference: even when responding to insult get a grip on emotions.
The issue at hand: A Member of Parliament and Minister makes classically ignorant and blatantly untrue claims about a vicinity whiles on the floor of parliament. His attention is drawn, he refuses to see the truth – sense if you want.
Then came a blitz on social media calling for RA – retraction and apology from the MP. Then a series of abusive posts and reactions describing the MP among others as being “stupid, foolish, mindless” etc.
Then for anyone who tries projecting the other side of things, you are tagged as backing the MP. Insulters don’t get it, for them if you won’t join us insult them you are affiliated to the other side – what a fallacy!
The MP said Nima will for the first time have residents flushing toilets like people across town – in East Legon. That it’s thanks to slum upgrade efforts of the government.
It is funny how in this day and age, a Minister believes that there is a slum in Ghana where a water closet cannot be found. Downright ignorant and arrogance on refusal to concede he was wrong.
This is a Ghana in which the government has long campaigned to end the traditional pit latrines and where even public places of convenience are transiting from KVIPs to WCs. Does that make him stupid, foolish, idiotic, NO!
Then the “clapback” enters a more weird arena of baseless comparison. The Minister was about Nima, the insulted insulters went on rampage insulting the Minister’s constituency – so his constituents might as well insult back eh, see why I said it can’t be a stupidity contest?
Some dragged in the President because his house falls under Nima, but so what? That’s the point about an ignorant comment and also we all know the Nima the Minister was referring to – even though wrongfully so.
Those that claim the president also comes to ease himself in non-WC toilets did, those that went on a census of WC public toilets gleefully did so. Fact is Nima still has houses where pan latrines are used, public toilets have a mix of WC and pit latrines.
Lest I forget, those that said Nima was the “ish” because it housed the presidency and the president, the French embassy et. al. went about their businesses thanks to technology and data.
Ah Alfa, you mean there was no need to react to the Minister? There was an absolute need. He needed to be educated not insulted. How about a press release calling him out with a hashtag and posting photos of WCs dotted in Nima? I’m just saying.
For too long, social media militancy has seen people huff and puff on Facebook threatening any and everyone. So instead of righting the wrong, they increase the violent perception.
How many years since 1992, Zongos are still breeding grounds for political thuggery. Some of these violent posturing only seek to emphasize them. Our response to anger – justified or not, cannot be insults. Who insults epp?
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